Wes Anderson’s latest film, Asteroid City, is eagerly awaited by his devoted followers. Anderson is well-known for his nostalgic aesthetic, offbeat characters, and droll humor.
Anderson’s latest comedy-drama film is set to grace Singapore cinemas this week, and it showcases his signature style – a sprawling ensemble cast of 21 stars, including Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Edward Norton. The charmingly futuristic version of the 1950s serves as the backdrop for the story, which follows a grieving father taking his children to a stargazing event in Asteroid City, a small desert town famous for its massive meteor crater. Cameo appearances by Margot Robbie and Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson add to the star power of the already impressive cast.
The arrival of an alien visitor led to the town being placed under lockdown. Brody, Hanks, and Johansson recently took part in a virtual press conference, discussing why so many actors are eager to work with Anderson who is currently 54 years old. Anderson, who has been nominated for seven Oscars including Best Director and Best Picture for The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), often works with the same actors. According to Johansson, aged 38, “what sets him apart is that feeling of camaraderie.”
The famous American actress, renowned for her remarkable roles in Marvel superhero movies such as Black Widow (2021) and recognized for her Oscar-nominated acts in Marriage Story (2019) and Jojo Rabbit (2019), praises the exceptional performances of her co-actors in the film. She admires how each actor’s portrayal stands out while also contributing to an exquisite and harmonious whole. In the movie, Johansson assumes the character of Midge, an actress who befriends the mourning father, Augie (Schwartzman). Unlike other movie sets where performers may feel disengaged during breaks, Anderson’s sets maintain the momentum going, avoiding any second thoughts about one’s career choices.
As per the actors involved, the movie is brimming with vitality and vigor. Tom Hanks, who essays the role of Stanley, the father-in-law of Augie, agrees that it gives off those classic Hollywood flick vibes, where cowboys, showgirls, and Roman fighters coexist on a studio set. The accomplished artist, who has bagged Oscars for his stupendous performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, elucidates that the ambiance on the set was heavily focused and intense, with everyone donning their costumes and prepared to give it their all. Adrien Brody, who depicts the director of the play about Asteroid City, has previously starred in four other films by Anderson, including The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch.
During the filming of a movie in the USA and Spain, the cast and crew left a lasting impression as they traveled to the set each day. All of them lodged at the same hotel, and some rode on a golf cart with the director, Wes, while still dressed in their character costumes. As a result, you could encounter an extraterrestrial, a cowboy, or some children hanging off the back of the cart as they passed through town en route to the stunning movie set. One of the actors, a 50-year-old American who received an Academy Award for his performance in The Pianist, described the experience as thrilling and unforgettable. The set was equally breathtaking in person as it appears in the final cut of the film.
Initially, some performers on the set of Wes Anderson’s newest film had doubts about whether the highly regarded director would be receptive to their input because of his reputation for being meticulous. One of the inexperienced cast members, Tom Hanks, sought counsel from more seasoned actors and was assured that Anderson would indeed be open to suggestions. In fact, Anderson was so amenable that he even implemented one of Hanks’ recommendations into the first scene they worked on, which delighted the actor. Nonetheless, despite the congenial atmosphere on set, Anderson’s obsessive attention to detail is displayed in the number of retakes he requires to achieve his desired outcome. While certain directors are satisfied with take 3, Anderson may insist on redoing the scene up to 60 times until it’s flawless. Asteroid City, the film they’re collaborating on, is scheduled to hit theaters this Thursday.
